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[oeillade]

Mariana writes Anne with complaints and mild Belcombe drama; Madame de Boyve writes to say all is ready for Anne in Paris. Anne’s aunt and uncle will miss her.

1824 August

Monday 23

6 20/60

1 1/4

Disturbed sleep last night — Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water came upstairs at 8 50/60 — All the day till 6 3/4, packing and siding my drawers etc. etc. — Letter this morning 3 pages from Mariana Lawton, she has been at Buxton and harassed up and down — her friend Miss Pattison has been very unwell — Dr. Belcombe has been a few days at Newcastle — is now at Lawton — the accounts of him only indifferent  — Mrs. Henry Stephen Belcombe obstinately dislikes settling in York — Mariana knew not how the matter was settled —Letter also 1 1/2 pages from Madame de Boyve (Place Vendôme 24 à Paris) merely a civil acknowledgement of my last, and to say all is ready for me — Dinner at 6 50/60 — my father and Marian called in the evening — then wrote above and dawdled over arranging the contents of my writing desk — Very fine day — Came up to bed at 10 10/60 — my aunt rather low at parting — My uncle looked an anxious look and I felt the sickly feel of going — Came down stairs at 11 to look at the glasses — Barometer 3 1/4  degrees above changeable Fahrenheit 61° at 11 p.m.

[oeillade]

Marian low and emotional over Anne’s impending departure and at the idea of Lister properties being sold.  Anne, perhaps uncharacteristically, resolves not to ‘annoy her unnecessarily.’

Sunday 22

7 1/2 

1 5/60

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — talked a long while to John (Booth) — at breakfast at 9 1/2 — came upstairs at 10 1/4 — from then to 2, finishing the traveling memoranda taken from my journals, and making minutes of the best editions (as given by Lempriere) of all the classics I may meet with and be able to buy — From 2 to 6 1/4, settling my accounts — did the summaries of the 2 last months — no error in the adding up of either the summaries or the accounts themselves, up to the end of this day — noted down the numbers etc. of all my bank of England bills — With what my uncle and aunt gave me vide yesterday and thirty pounds of Mariana’s and the rest of my own I have tonight just two hundred and thirty one pounds eighteen and five pence half penny exclusive of fifteen pounds that is five for Cordingley as much for tea for my uncle and as much for ditto for my father George brought up a parcel from Mariana — the web of Irish cloth directed to my aunt — a small square white dimity pincushion for me, but nothing else — no letter — Dinner at 6 20/60 — coffee immediately afterwards — My father and Marian drank tea here, and stayed till after 8 — Marian seemed to linger as if rather low at the thought of my going — Speaking of the Market Weighton estate  She always feels as if she should live to have it — cannot wish it to be sold, if things go on tolerably — May some time or other live in the East Riding tho’ not Skelfer — at some house in the country — does not like a populous country does not therefore like here — whatever mischief is done, consoles herself with the thought, it is not so at Market Weighton  ‘If they put up the estate to sell, they must put up me too’ — Her partiality is strong — I will never more say anything against keeping the estate to annoy her unnecessarily — my father gave me a 5 pounds bank of England for tea at Twining’s — Talking to my uncle and aunt about 1 thing or other (much about Marian) till 10 20/60 at which hour came up to bed.  Barometer being 3 degrees above changeable Fahrenheit 59 1/2° — Very fine day — E two dots beneath O two dots within —

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All the day…looking over writing desk, writing drawer, books and papers etc. and arranging so that I can leave them tidily…. Anne prepares for her upcoming journey to Paris.

1824 August Saturday 21

7 25/60

12 1/2 

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — Down to breakfast at 9 1/2 — found Mr. and Mrs. William Priestley down stairs with my uncle and aunt, Mr. Priestley having called on my uncle — they stayed perhaps 20 minutes — My aunt gave me one hundred and twenty-five from my uncle that is 150 altogether pounds for my journey to Paris.  Came upstairs at 10 40/60 — All the day, till 6 3/4, looking over writing desk, writing drawer, books and papers etc. and arranging so that I can leave them tidily etc. etc. — Dinner at 6 40/60 — In the evening for about 1 1/4 hour writing out traveling memoranda — Coffee at 9 1/4 — A little rain early in the morning — rain again about noon and heavy thunder then about 5 p.m. for about an hour — Barometer 3/4 degree above changeable Fahrenheit 57° at 10 20/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — E two dots beneath O two dots within Felt a good deal of discharge this afternoon and evening —

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She said the Misses Walker of Crownest were gone to Halifax — therefore left a message for them and returned to Lightcliffe with Mrs. William Priestley…. Confidential sort of friendly conversation with Mrs. Priestley never liked her or him better they certainly seem to like me she in very particular.

1824 August Friday 20

6 40/60

12 20/60

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water. Sent off George for Blamire — Caradoc very lame of his off hind foot which on removing the dressing had begun to bleed again and shew a little matter.  At 8 1/2 off to Lightcliffe to breakfast — got there at 8 50/60 — Talked over the business of the Wednesday’s deputation of the commission of the Northowram road — agree with Mr. Priestley the Wakefield commission ought to join concerns with them — May make a good job of it if they please — the Northowram commission will pay all, if the Wakefield commission will keep up the road afterwards — But all with the Northowram commission will gain their part in spite of my uncle and father — Mr. Priestley would not oppose them — would rather never attend another meeting than do it — William but agreed with the Northowram commission the two roads ought to be joined — felt hurt and annoyed at Mr. Jeremiah Rawson’s so baiting my uncle but he knew no better — Sat talking to Mrs. William Priestley till 12 1/4 and read her that part of Miss Maclean’s letter about the Crawfurds, then she walked with me to call on Miss Walker at Cliff hill — stayed with her about 1/4 hour — She said the Misses Walker of Crownest were gone to Halifax — therefore left a message for them and returned to Lightcliffe with Mrs. William Priestley in consequence of the rain and stayed with her till 2 1/4 when, it being totally fair, came away and walked direct (down the old bank) to Halifax — made several shoppings — ordered about my basket oil-case cover mending at Furniss’s — a light trunk covered with leather (a small imperial) the size of my basket would cost £1 an oil case cover for it 10/-. — I think I shall try this plan another time — returned up the old bank — A long while talking to Jackman — giving orders about the farmyard sheds etc. — came in (upstairs) at 5 1/4 — 1/2 hour looking over the little pocket within (3/. bound published 1822 at Edinburgh) I bought at Whitley’s — a very useful little book containing guides the dictionary part an accented list of classical names etc etc then marked with ink (Mariana’s receipt most excellent) a good many new things ready for my journey — Dinner at 6 40/60 In the evening wrote all the above of today — Confidential sort of friendly conversation with Mrs. Priestley never liked her or him better they certainly seem to like me she in very particular — Very fine morning — cool and pleasant walking.  It began to rain about 12 20/60 or 12 1/2, just after we set off to Cliff hill, and continued till after 2 — Then dampish but fair till about 5 and after a few drops fair again till between 8 and 9, and a little small rain and damp — Barometer 1 1/4 degree below changeable Fahrenheit 56 1/2° at 10 1/2 p.m. — On my return home found on my desk a letter 3 pages and the ends very kind and friendly to wish me a pleasant journey etc etc from Mrs James Dalton (Croft Rectory Darlington) — The Norcliffes not to return till October — Blamire took off Caradoc’s shoe and dressed his foot — a little formation of matter and proud flesh, but no other harm — I don’t think much of this — Mr. Walker (of Crow Nest) takes his horse and goes to Halifax every day about one does not get back till between 5 and 6 — Spends all this time at Mr. Haigh’s of the Causey or at Dr. Gervase Alexander’s — Coffee at 9 1/4  Came up to bed at 10 1/2 — E two dots beneath O three dots within  Felt a good deal as I returned from Lightcliffe —

[oeillade]

Thinking of Miss Maclean but could not connect the idea of passion with her and turned to the thought of Mariana and incurred the cross. 

1824 August Thursday 19

9 5/60

12 1/2 

Thinking of Miss Maclean but could not connect the idea of passion with her and turned to the thought of Mariana and incurred the cross. Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — Jackman came to finish the farm-yard sheds and Mark Hepworth with his cart and 2 horses to lead stones — talking to them a long while came upstairs again at 9 50/60 — at breakfast at 10 3/4 — upstairs again at 11 1/2 wrote a page and the ends and crossed half the page of 1/2 sheet to Mariana (took by mistake a sheet written upon on the other side) to beg she would write by Saturday’s post — wondered she had not written already — said I should leave here on Tuesday be in London on Wednesday — had several things to do there might not be in Calais till next Monday week (by the Lord Melville from London), but I hoped to reach Paris next Wednesday week, 1 September — Bade her write to my uncle and aunt in my absence and send them game if she could — Sent off my letter to Mariana (Lawton hall) at 12 20/60 — all the rest of the day, sorting out my things for my journey — preparing new ones for marking with ink — adjusting my drawers etc. etc. and mending my cloth boot — Dinner at 6 3/4 Mr. Wiglesworth had come at 5 and drank tea with my uncle and aunt my father and Marian called — all went away about 8 — Fine day — Barometer 3/4 degree below changeable Fahrenheit 58° at 10 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — Tidying my room — wrote all the above of today — E two dots underneath O two dots within — marginal notations: + L V

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Letter from Miss Maclean — Very affectionate style without much direct profession. Disappointed not to have heard from me tho’ I had said I should only write once before my going. ‘Your letters are a treasure to me.’ For my own sake glad I am going to Paris….

1824 August Wednesday 18

7 20/60

12 3/4

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — 3 pages and the ends, very kind letter from Mr. Duffin (Micklegate York) — He would have liked to have gone with us to the Lakes — Still hopes we shall some time or other go to France together ‘I have lately ‘been speculating in the new York and county Insurance office to the amount of fifty shares — ‘it may turn our well — at any rate, I shall fare with others who are as deep in the business as myself — ‘we have safe hands to trust to’ — Miss Duffin in mourning for Mr. Harness 1st cousin to her mother and a great friend to them all — Letter also from Miss Maclean (Tobermory) 3 pages the ends and 1/2 the 1st page crossed — Very affectionate style without much direct profession ‘It is a real punishment to me not to write to you when I have a spare moment’ Disappointed not to have heard from me tho’ I had said I should only write once before my going — ‘Your letters are a treasure to me’ For my own sake glad I am going to Paris for her own regrets I shall be so much farther off and my letters so much longer on the road but hopes I shall not write less frequently Would have sent me some of her niece Miss Hobart’s letters but there is too much Italian in them ‘I feared you might ‘suppose I understood it well’ — ashamed of writing so soon again, would not have sent this letter but to tell me ‘of the Crawfords’ ‘They are one of the oldest families in Ayrshire, have a very fine new castle or ‘Abbey — the present Mr. Crawford succeeded a very distant relation, but, of course, must have descended from one ‘of the family — his wife was a Miss Wright, whom I remember to have seen galloping thro’ the streets in ‘Edinburgh long ago — She was considered a character — liked her horse better than anything — clever and had a fortune — ‘I never was acquainted with her — They are perfectly respectable — This is all my information’ — after reading my letters went down to breakfast at 9 3/4 came up again at 10 1/2 — wrote a few lines and sent them at 11 1/4 to ‘Mr. Turnbull, White horse Inn, Boar Lane, Leeds’ — To secure me two outside places on the union from Leeds to London next Tuesday — Dawdled over 1 thing or other till 12 1/2 then read over Miss Maclean’s letter — took a foolscap sheet and wrote her one page to be ready to go from London or Calais which took me till 3 — then wrote the whole of yesterday and so far of today which took me till 4 20/60 — Went out for a few minutes to tell Jackman’s sons to desire their father to come tomorrow to begin the farm yard shed — Looking over volume 6 of my Journal  Dinner at 6 1/2 — My uncle went to a turnpike meeting in a chaise — my aunt accompanied him to North gate — not returned — came upstairs again a little after 7 — till 9 1/4 making Traveling memoranda from my journals — went down to coffee at 9 20/60 Deputation from the new commission the intended new road to Northowram to the road commissions wishing them to join with them — my uncle and father strongly opposed — Very showery day — Barometer 3 1/2 degrees below changeable Fahrenheit 55° at 10 1/2 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — Looking over Young’s Night Thoughts 3/4 hour — then wrote the last 6 lines — E two dots underneath O two dots within

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Oh, Lord. Luke Greenwood from the Cunnery was killed while helping to clean Benjamin Bottomley’s draw-well.  Several men were handing the sediment in a tin bucket, a stone slipt down, took the poor man stooping full on the back of the head, and killed him almost instantly.

1824 August Tuesday 17

7 1/2

12 1/2

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — Mending my shift.  Held the stick at my back about ten minutes as I have done every morning but one since I began and I do the same every night too — letter from Mr. Duffin (Micklegate, York) — He would have liked to have gone with us to the Lakes — Still hopes we shall some time or other go to France together — Reading over my letters to Miss Maclean — At breakfast 9 50/60 — Came upstairs at 10 1/2 wrote out long memoranda of what I had to do at Halifax, etc.  Followed my aunt to Halifax in about 1/2 hour at 11 55/60 — A man stopt me to say a man that lived at the Cunnery was just killed in Benjamin Bottomley’s draw-well — Went to see — It was Luke Greenwood — James Smith and several others were trying to get him out — he had been cleaning the well — 1 of his sons and Benjamin’s parish apprentice (2 lads of 15 or 16) were handing the sediment in a tin bucket over the loose wall close to the well, a stone slipt down, took the poor man stooping full on the back of the head and nape of the neck, and killed him almost instantly — met my aunt at North gate — Left orders at Suter’s etc. left my aunt to saunter slowly and went to Mr. Sunderland’s physic-room to desire he might be sent to see in what state the poor man was and to call at Shibden and let us know — put into the Post office my letter to ‘Miss Maclean of Coll Tobermory North Britain’ vide yesterday then called with my aunt for 1/4 hour on Mrs. Catherine Rawson — Miss Bessy Stavely there — very smart and vulgar — bowed so slightly she saw I meant to cut her and instantly got up and went away — Called to beg Mr. James Briggs would be at home in the afternoon and finding I had forgotten my banking book, left my father and aunt to walk together and got home at 1 50/60 — off again at 2 1/4, after seeing my uncle — left my book at the bank and went to James Briggs — He was not to have known of Mr. Parker’s blunder about the day Bradford sessions begun but Mr. Horton would not hear of putting the matter off, till Messieurs  Washington and Parker shewed him the blundering informally — All that business about Mr. Maude was a humbug to screen Mr. Parker’s blunder which we were to know — After much talking the matter over, desiring Mr. James Briggs to take the whole charge of the business — future we agreed not to bring it forward at Leeds in October (no magistrate would be then knowing anything about it) but put it off till Wakefield sessions next January — Mr. James Briggs and I called at Mr. Parker’s lodgings to tell him, but after standing some time at the door, went away and left Mr. Briggs to tell him that without any argument about the thing, so it was to be — I had told Mr. Briggs I myself would never employ Mr. Parker then went to the library stayed there at least an hour reading the Edinburgh magazine for last January — Good condemning review of ‘Hajji Baba by the author of Anastasius’ i.e. Mr. Hope — the last as much praised as the 1st is blamed as being a bad imitation of Gil Blas and a sad falling off altogether from the powerful pages of Anastasius — the tale of Euphrosyne said to be one of the most powerful in our language — the scene in the bagnio, description of the approach to Constantinople, etc. much praised — the then last number of the quarterly review said to be 1 of the best ever published — etc. etc. — found the bank door shut — Mr. Saltmarshe’s servant gave the technical 3 raps with the end of a key and I got in and got my concerns settled — Took the whole of the balance due twenty pounds nineteen and six pence — then sat 1 20/60 hour with Mrs. Christopher Saltmarshe and just saw Mr. Saltmarshe for a few minutes before I came away — Never saw either of them more kindly civil — Emma Saltmarshe expects to be confined in February — Told them I should set off this Day-week — Had before met Major and Mrs. Priestley in the town and told them too, which saved me the trouble of writing a note — said I had not seen Mrs. Edwards of long — begged my remembrances — would call on my return — Said I was going to some friends in Paris none but Monsieur de Boyve could speak a word of English they kept a great deal of company I should stay as long as they found me agreeable about two months made several shoppings, and got home at 6 40/60 — dinner at 6 50/60 — my father and Marian called and about 7 1/2 Mr. Sunderland came  the poor man’s skull was so fractured ‘touching his skull was like touching a bag full of cockle-shells’ — he must have died as quickly as if he had been decapitated’ — the lower part of the skull the occiput quite broken and so of the vertebrae of the neck — my father and Marian went a little before 9 — Mr. Sunderland staid till 9 40/60 — Asked him about a course of medical reading — He will lend me books — Should begin with anatomy (Fyfe) then physiology, then the Materia Medica — Sir Astley Cooper’s Surgery (published at 1 1/2 guineas) excellent ‘Had the Bells written it, it would have been 2 1/2 or 3 guineas’ — Sir Astely Cooer the 1st surgeon in London — Said I should like to see the veterinary college — Consulted him about this — He will give me a note for professor Coleman, who (he thinks) will be happy to shew it (the college) to me — might ask me to attend his lectures — Mr. Sunderland is to drink tea with us and then bring me the note — He likes a little medical conversation — Coffee at 9 3/4  — Fine day — then had been a little rain just before Mr. Sunderland went away Barometer 3 1/4 degrees below changeable Fahrenheit 59° at 10 40/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — wrote long memoranda of today — Used the stick as usual about ten minutes E two dots underneath O no dots within —

[oeillade]

Anne realizes with some chagrin, that she has spent OVER TWENTY HOURS on one letter to Miss Maclean.  ‘This will not do.’  

1824 August Monday 16

6 3/4

12

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — From 8 40/60 to 9 55/60 writing out not quite the whole of what was page 3 of my letter to Miss Maclean. Breakfast at 10 — Came upstairs at 10 3/4 — Copied on my slate a letter to Mrs Webbe and a note to Mrs Henry Priestley — Wrote a letter to Mrs Webbe to say I should be there tomorrow week (Tuesday 24th instant) and order rooms for 2 or 3 days, and 2 cabriolet places to be secured for me in Mr Webbe’s coach from Calais to Paris on Sunday the 29th instant — then I should be in Paris 2 days too soon — Thought the thing over — don’t want to be more than 3 whole week-days in London — went down stairs — talked to my aunt — wrote another letter fixed to be in London Wednesday the 25th instant and ordering cabriolet places for Tuesday the 31st instant — at 12 1/2 resumed writing out my letter to Miss Maclean after writing 20 minutes, I was so sleepy, I fell asleep for 1/2 hour — Then from 1 20/60 to 3 (just 2 hours altogether) finished writing out all I had written before, and got it all very small and close, crammed into 3 pp pages the ends and under the turn-down for the seal — all which, including the 7 1/2 lines of preface at the head of the 1st page, has taken me yesterday and today 5 50/60 — Then added several lines very small and close, on the margins particularly the top of page 1 copied these and the preface and folded and directed the letter ready for tomorrow which absolutely took me from 3 to 4 20/60 — How time slips away!  Then wrote the last 9 lines of today — and had just done at 4 40/60 — It may be curious to remark that the making of this letter took me fourteen hours and twenty-five minutes and the writing it out five hours and fifty minutes therefore — 12 25/60 and 5/50 = 20 1/2 — See Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today thus this one letter has cost twenty and a quarter hours.  This will not do.  I will not copy my letters to her merely extract heads and sentences.  I cannot afford her so much time.  It must not be. — In this letter to Miss Maclean I have begun a sketch of the commencement of our acquaintance from the 1st time of my seeing her Tuesday 15 February 1820 to my leaving York Thursday 30 March the same year — ‘(to be continued, if you like, on my return from Paris)’ — I wonder what she will say to this — Had just done the last 6 lines of today at 5 10/60 — Read over Miss Maclean’s last letter but 2, yet could not find out the what sentence she alluded to as likely to annoy me (vide page 2 1st sheet of her franked letter of Friday 6 August) — Settled my accounts all which took me till 6 20/60.  Washed and used two syringes of plain cold water — Dinner at 6 40/60 — From 7 3/4 to 8 30/60 walked down the fields to the new foot path — much improved by the raising at the bottom of the wood — returned up the steps and walked to Hipperholme lane ends and back — took a turn or 2 along our approach road then walked 20 minutes on the terrace and came in to coffee at 9 — Showery in the morning till towards noon — fine afterwards — Barometer 1 1/2 degrees below changeable Fahrenheit 57° at 10 10/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — [E two dots above lowest arm of the letter O one dot within] Sent off my letter to ‘MrsWebbe, Webbe’s Hotel 220 Piccadilly London Postage Paid’ 11d at 12 20/60 —

[oeillade]

The vicar’s sermon is so very good that Anne only dozes maybe once or twice.  Later, she spends two hours and ten minutes on a letter to Miss Maclean; this is getting out of hand.

1824 August Sunday 15

8 35/60

12 ½

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water at breakfast at 9 50/60 — walked with my uncle to church — the vicar preached 39 minutes (good sermon) from Romans iii 24.  Good explanation of the words justify and justification, and good, sound doctrine — I dozed a few seconds once or twice, but not more — It rained pretty smartly as we returned — got back and came upstairs at 1 35/60 — Took another sheet to copy out my letter to Miss Maclean and from 2 to 4 35/60 had written over again the 2 first pp. pages — The first seven and a quarter lines of preface to say what had happened to my other sheet took me twenty-five minutes the rest copied verbatim took me two hours and ten minutes — Went down stairs at 4 3/4 — my aunt and I read the prayers and I read aloud sermon 91 volume 3 my uncle’s collection Dinner at 6 10/60 — coffee immediately afterwards — the morning lowering — threatening rain — heavy rain as we returned from church and for some time afterwards — a heavy shower afterwards again and rain came on in the evening about 8 — Barometer 3 1/2  degrees below changeable Fahrenheit 58° at 10 10/60 at which hour came up to bed — Quarter hour airing things by the kitchen fire — wrote the last 7 lines

[oeillade]

An hour reviewing her latest letter to Miss Maclean and then, quel désastre!!!, Anne drops it in the foot pot!  

1824 August Saturday 14

9 50/60

12 20/60

At breakfast at 10 55/60 –afterwards gave Hotspur his oatmeal and water — came upstairs at 12 Looking at Rochefoucauld’s Maxims and my volume of Quotations (Excerpta volume 1) till 1 — Then an hour reading over and rather altering the copy of what I wrote to Miss Maclean last night — From 2 to 6 1/2 wrote the last 13 lines of page 3, 16 lines on the 1st end, 17 some on the 2d 9 lines under the seal and crossed the 1st page all very small and close, and thus finished my letter begun on Wednesday to Miss Maclean — Dinner at 6 3/4 —my father and Marian called and stayed till 8 1/4 — walked back with them as far as Benjamin Bottomley’s — a few drops of rain sent me home — Yet the rain kept off so that I walked on the terrace till 9 5/60 and then came in to coffee  Fine day Barometer 1/3 degree below changeable Fahrenheit 60° at 10 1/4 at which hour came up to bed — wrote the last 4 1/2 lines — on turning to look at my letter to Miss Maclean and her franked letter to me and 4 sheets of writing paper slipt out of my writing case into the foot pot full of water — 1/4 hour wiping them gently dry as I could — In a fright lest the ink should run and the writing become almost illegible — it seems to be drying tolerably well — but I shall have to write another sheet to Miss Maclean I believe — Found a parcel for me, carriage paid, the plaid made of the Maclean tartan, the prettiest I ever saw, and a pot of marmalade, wrapt in it, sent by Isabella Norcliffe from Edinburgh — How very attentive in her! —

[oeillade]

Anne tells friends she will be glad to do anything for them (except smuggling, of course!).  In the evening, she spends three hours on a letter to Miss Maclean.

1824

August Friday 13

6 50/60

4

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — walked 1/2 hour on the terrace — At breakfast at 9 1/2 — Came upstairs at 10 40/60 — wrote about one page to Mr Radclyffe, late Rouge Croix, to say my uncle desired to give his compliments and he begs he would take an early opportunity of inserting his (my uncle’s) name on his list of subscribers to his proposed work ‘Dugdale’s Heraldic Visitation of Yorkshire 1665-1666; together with considerable additions’ etc. etc. — Read over my letter, finished yesterday to Miss Henrietta Crompton (Esholt hall, Bradford) — mention my hope to be in Paris as last Wednesday 3 weeks — give her my address there ask her to write to me, but not to expect an answer till my return home — and not to direct to me here after the 20th instant — nothing else particular in the letter — Read over also my letter written yesterday to Mrs James Dalton (Croft Rectory Darlington Durham) — slight mention of our tour — tell ‘I am busy preparing for a 2 or 3 months’ stay in Paris, where I hope to be safe arrived in less than 3 weeks, — on the 1st day of next month — Give my address — not to direct here after the 20th — I may go on the 21st or 23d — shall be happy to do anything for them ‘short of smuggling’ — Hope to hear from her in Paris but she must expect no answer till after my return — Ask if Mr Banks is in Paris — if he is, beg Mr Dalton to send me a letter to take to him — speaking of Norcliffe being manageable, ‘But it is my own idea, that, in happy married life, sensible women do always ‘manage their husbands — They yield to conquer, and they conquer to make happy — who would not rather be led, than ‘not, by such a silken cord as they would rather fear to break, than struggle to resist?  I have a good old friend ‘who knows all this full well; or, at least, he knows it well whose life of happiness had been her ‘constant study — to wish for such an one to be at one’s elbow, is merely selfish, after all, — most ‘kind and good’ to our own proper person whose comforts cannot hang so well upon ourselves — You ‘shall talk to me about these things in our next walks round their garden — But I shall ‘continue to esteem’ ‘you in my own way, as little afraid of not always finding an affectionate welcome at the Rectory, ‘as you need to be yet’ absence ‘can ever drive you from the mind’ of the attached and very sincere friend —‘Sealed and sent off my letters as above (vide lines 2, 5 and 8) at 12 1/4, had just finished writing the above of today at 11 35/60 — At 12 20/60 resumed my letter begun on Wednesday to Miss Maclean wrote the latter 1/2 page 2 and almost the whole of page 3 very small and close which took me till 4 3/4 — Dinner at 5 1/4 — Fell asleep for 1/2 hour afterwards — at 6 55/60 set off to walk to Halifax — met Washington and Jackman detained a long while talking about the new foot path — Mr Washington said they wanted (Schofield had wished him to mention it to me) the steps mending down the wood, and those taking away leading into the Dolt — said what we had done already — begged Mr Washington to look at it, but concluded by saying we could do no more now — the thing must take its chance — we should not care much if we could not get the old foot path stopt — we should try again some other time — the matter would never be abandoned, and it would get done in future — But said the top steps in the wood were the worst, and the best way would be to sink Lower brea lane 1/2 yard to ease them this way — over took my aunt walking to the top of the bank — down the old bank to Whitley’s — paid for the last Retrospective Review and the last Zoological (nos. 19 and 2) etc. on inquiring if Mr Whitley knew anything of Sowerby 1 of the editors of the Zoological he said he was very obstinate he behaved in his own way — lived at Lambeth — but recommended me to Mr Wood, Bookseller, Strand-on the opposite side to Somerset house, near St. Martin’s church — Mr Wood a very civil communicative man — knew all the literary men — would advise me if I wished to consult them — Sold only botanical and philosophical works — chiefly the former — son to Wood, author of the Zoographia a large work — then called and sat an hour at the Saltmarshe’s with Mr and Mrs Saltmarshe — said I was to spend a couple of months with some friends in Paris — They were very civil but she gets more and more vulgar —  got a minute or 2 after 9 — Coffee immediately — Very fine day — Barometer 1 1/8 degree above changeable Fahrenheit 59° at 10 35/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — wrote the last 16 lines — Sat up reading over Miss Maclean’s letter making references to what I had to answer and latterly writing the answer itself on a loose bit of paper — All which took me full three hours or more —

[oeillade]

Anne sees to correspondence and estate business, discovering a mistake by Mr Parker — 'He never told us this but his get off about Mr Maude must have been all a shuffle.’

1824

August Thursday 12

8

12 50/60

At breakfast at 9 55/60 — Read my uncle and aunt Isabella Norcliffe’s letter and the copy of my last to Madame de Boyve — Came upstairs at 11 1/2 — read over sealed and sent off at 12 my letter to Miss Marsh (the Reverend N. Holme’s, Rise, Beverley) and my letter to Mr Duffin (Micklegate, York) both dated yesterday but written on Tuesday (vide Tuesday) — Then wrote the copy of a letter to Mr Radclyfffe late Rouge Croix — From 1 to 5 1/2 wrote pages 2 and 3, the ends, and crossed the 1st page and finished my letter begun on Tuesday but the 1st page never the less dated as yesterday to Miss Henrietta Crompton and wrote 3 pages and the ends to Mrs James Dalton — then went (at 6) to the new foot path (raising it at the bottom of Lower brea wood) — my uncle there came back together at 6 3/4 —Dinner immediately — my father and Marian here — drank tea here, and stayed till after 8 — Mr James Briggs told my father we must have lost our foot path business last Bradford Sessions — there was a mistake in the advertisement published in the Leeds Independent — the sessions said to begin on the Monday 12 instant of the Thursday 16 July — this must have been Mr Parker’s mistake — He never told us this but his get off about Mr Maude must have been all a shuffle very fine day — Barometer 1 degree below changeable Fahrenheit 59 1/2° at 10 10/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — wrote the last 16 lines which took till 10 35/60 wrote out a rough draft of my accounts — and read from page 233 to 241.

[oeillade]

In reference to Anne’s relationship with Miss Maclean, Tib sends from Edinburgh ‘a cloak made of the Maclean plaid’ and ‘a pot of Scotch marmalade.’ Anne expresses her (current) refusal to smuggle to Tib.

1824

August Wednesday 11

9

1 5/60

Lay slumbering a couple of hours — Thinking a little but not so to be much excited about meeting Miss Vallance  Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — Letter from Isabella Norcliffe dated ‘Edinburgh Sunday August 8th 1824.’  3 pages all crossed — a very well written account of the town’ — ‘Berwick upon Tweed (vide midway page 2) is a good town, and here I sent you a kippered salmon…..  It is to be dressed upon the gridiron, and sent to table in small oblong pieces’ — She has sent me from Edinburgh ‘a cloak made of the Maclean plaid’ and ‘ a pot of Scotch marmalade’ which I am to get in a few days (vide Saturday 14th instant page 53) — They reached Edinburgh (vide 1/2 way page 3) Saturday 8 1/2 p.m. 3, July, ‘and went to the Royal ‘Hotel in Princes St.  It is now some years since I was in Scotland, and, since that time, I have traveled over ‘most of the continent and seen many different capitals, but never one that could compare with this most magnificent ‘city, which may truly be called the glory of Europe.  The new road made over the Calton hill is superb beyond description, and I should think, cannot be surpassed in the universe’ ….after reading my letter went down to breakfast at 10 10/60 — By the way, Miss Vallance  goes with them to Perth and will probably go with them the whole of the town — Came upstairs at 11 5/50 — From 11 1/4 to 1 1/4 had written sealed and sent off 3 pages and the ends and 1/2 the 1st page crossed to Isabella Norcliffe — ‘Post-office, Aberdeen, North Britain’ — Giving Isabella Norcliffe my thanks etc. congratulating them on the pleasures of the tour — quoted  Miss Maclean’s message (vide the last end and first page of the crossing of her letter that arrived here Wednesday 28 July 1824, said my aunt seemed better for her little excursion — her rheumatism was turned to gout — we had seen 12 lakes and everything every body else saw, but had missed Coniston water and Ulverston Furness abbey and Lancaster on account of our little accident in Patterdale — said we were chiefly taken with the beauty of the vale of Keswick — mentioned my letter to Miss Vallance — hoped Fisher would not forward it — I was glad she was going all along with them — I should only lose a few hours of their society begging my love and should hope to be more fortunate another time —could not have gone to Sittingbourne — would not have intruded myself at Stamford.  ‘Had I been in the place — or Miss Vallance’s friend direct, or as much hers as theirs, the case might have been different — said I had merely thought she might have no objection to rest elsewhere on the road than at Stamford and I should have been to stop 12 hours with her wherever I had a host of strangers to encounter — I wonder what they will say to all this.  Told Isabella Norcliffe I could not smuggle but she should have the ten ells of puce coloured Levantine — wrote the above of today which took me till 1 50/60 — then from about 2 to 4 3/4 read over Miss Maclean’s last letter but one and wrote her 1 1/2 pp pages very small and close — interrupted between three and four on finding my cousin come — At dinner at 5 — At 6 1/2 set off to walk to Lightcliffe — drank tea with Mrs William Priestley — took and gave her to read Miss Hodson’s rigmarole note of quotation from one of Mrs. Crawfurd’s letters — Sat talking till 9 40/60 and did not get home till 10 10/60 — Had coffee immediately — Mr. Priestley’s servant came with me as far as Mytholm — Fine day — very fine moonlight evening — Barometer 1 2/3 below changeable Fahrenheit 60° at 10 55/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — read from page 174 to 180 Zoological Journal observations on the generation of snails 1/4 hour airing things.

[oeillade]

Getting ready for travel but time enough to get off some letters, send part of the Tib salmon to Lightcliffe, and to read an interesting article by Frédéric Cuvier, French zoologist, paleontologist and younger brother of our friend Georges Cuvier.

1824 August Tuesday 10

7 1/4

12 1/2

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — wrote the ends of my letter to Mariana, and a little after 8, sent off this letter to Mariana ‘Mrs. Briscoe’s Hotel Parkgate, Neston Cheshire’ — and my letter written yesterday but dated today’ à Madame de Boyve, Place Vendôme 24 à Paris’ — Skimmed over the 1st 16 pages (article 19) and from page 241 to 249 no. 2 Zoological Journal at breakfast at 9 50/60 — wrote a little note to Mrs. William Priestley, Lightcliffe, with a piece (about the 1/2 of one side of a fish) of the dried salmon Isabella Norcliffe sent — skimmed article from page 249 to 264 no. 2 Zoological Journal — went out at 11 1/4 for an hour to give Jackman directions about altering some of the steps in Lower brea wood and raising the new foot path at the bottom of the wood and across the Tilly holm — Mending my gloves, etc. — From 1 to near 4, wrote 3 pages and the ends and under the seal, and thus finished my letter to Miss Marsh dated it tomorrow giving her some account of our journey and mentioning my going to Paris and that my address after the 20th instant would be chez nous de Boyve, Place Vendôme 24 in Paris, where I hoped to be on the 1st of next month — At 4 went down to see Gill the farrier dress Caradoc’s toe he bled on Saturday and look at Hotspur’s feet — all going on well — At 5 sat down to dinner, meaning to go to Lightcliffe this evening — but a few drops of rain with likelihood for more prevented me — came upstairs therefore at 6 — (Mr. Sunderland here — called to see my aunt — very much better today — I did not see him) — From 6 to 8 1/4 wrote 3 pages the ends and under the seal to Mr. Duffin — dated as tomorrow — expressing my hope to be in Paris (mentioning where, as tomorrow 3 weeks and the wish that Mr. Duffin could have gone with me — some account of our Lake-excursion, — of Dr. Belcombe and their adventure on the sands — begging Mr. Duffin ‘when you see Mrs. Belcombe, ‘do give my love to them all, and best thanks to her for her letter, and do say I would write, but am really so hurried ‘getting sheds and foot paths finished, making a few traveling memoranda, etc. etc. that I have scarce a moment to spare — ‘and five letters still hang over me, yet I must write before I go’ — wrote one page pretty small and close to Miss Henrietta Crompton — and went down to coffee at 9 1/2 — Fine day — the few drops of rain between 5 and 6 were merely a few drops and no more and I might have gone to Lightcliffe well enough — Mr. Sunderland drank tea with my uncle and aunt but I did not see him at all — Barometer 1 1/2 degree below changeable Fahrenheit 59° at 10 1/2 pm at which hour came up to bed —35 minutes reading from page 153 to 174 volume 1 Zoological Journal, excellent analysis of the opinion of Dr. Fleming and Monsieur Frédéric Cuvier on the nature of instinct.

[oeillade]

Anne talks up Miss Maclean to Mariana: ‘Her mind is as pure and elegant as herself — I think I shall go to Quinish next summer — Do not name her at all as a friend of mine to Mrs. Milne — One single quiz or joke about Miss Maclean I could not endure — About a hundred others I care not a straw; but in this case, you know it is undeserved by both parties.’  And Anne works on her posture with the blasted stick.

1824

August Monday 9

8 1/4 

12 ½

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — At breakfast at 10 1/4 — Came upstairs at 11 — wrote and then copied 2 1/2 hurried pages to Miss Vallance in answer to the ends of Isabella Norcliffe’s letter (vide line 19 of the last page) — excused myself from going to her friends’ at Stamford, or to Sittingbourne — ‘If by any contrivance, you can spend a few hours with me on that road where I shall have no strangers to encounter, it will delight me; if not, I am so circumstanced at first, that the pleasure of seeing you now is impracticable’….. Have written exactly what I wrote last night and have kept a copy as I always do of what I write to Miss Vallance — At 12 1/2 sent down my letter (Miss Vallance, Mr. Fisher’s, Petergate, York) for the post office — Mrs. Saltmarshe Rawson of Stony Royde and her daughters then called and stayed near 1/2  hour — Came upstairs again at 1 1/4 —Wrote and copied and folded and directed 1 1/4 page to Madame de Boyve — thanking her for her letter (mentioning how long it had been on the road) saying I should take a woman servant with me, still hoped to be with Madame de Boyve 1st September probably in the evening, and concluded with ‘the possibility of your being at all acquainted with anyone in Yorkshire to whom I have the pleasure of being known, never once occurred to me — the circumstance you are good enough to mention, sets me quite at ease; and I have only to hope that the person, by whose good opinion I am so much flattered, had made you run no risk of being more disappointed than I should feel comfortable to discover — I am, Madam, then obliged —' At 3 1/2 took up Mariana’s letter to read and to answer — wrote her 3 pages very small and close — the 1st 1 1/2 page about our journey — then turn to other subjects — praise Mariana’s letter to Mrs. Henry Stephen Belcombe on Steph’s settling in York — mention having excused myself from meeting Miss Vallance at her friends’ at Stamford, and from going with her to Sittingbourne — made the following mention at the foot of page 3 of Miss Maclean 2 sheets in a frank from Miss Maclean you would be delighted with them — she writes so naturally, so simply, so interestingly — Her mind is as pure and elegant as herself — I think I shall go to Quinish next summer — Do not name her at all as a friend of mine to Mrs. Milne — One single quiz or joke about Miss Maclean I could not endure — About a hundred others I care not a straw; but in this case, you know it is undeserved by both parties — I wish you knew her better — but ‘avec le temps tout s’arrange’ — I hope we shall all 4 meet some of ‘these days, most happily’ — At Dinner at 6 35/60 — my aunt and Marian drank tea here and stayed till 8 — Went into the garden at 8 1/2 — ate gooseberries 1/4 hour, walked in the terrace about 1/2 hour — coffee at 9 1/4 — my aunt again very poorly this afternoon and evening in her bowels — tho’ certainly not so bad as yesterday evening — sent to desire Mr. Sunderland to come this afternoon — but he is from home and may not return of some days — Rain in the morning till between 9 and 10 — then cleared and turned out a fine day — very fine moonlight evening — Barometer 1 1/2 degree below changeable Fahrenheit 59 1/2° at 10 1/2 p.m. at which hour came up to bed —Sat up reading the 23 last pages of no. 2 Zoological Journal — Held the stick ten minutes

[oeillade]

Anne thinks (along with her uncle) that the vicar’s son, Mr. William Knight, is not much of a preacher, neither agreeable nor interesting, and so she of course nods off through the service.  She feels pleased, however, with a letter she has just composed to Miss Vallance — ‘a well done ingenious get off!’

1824

August Sunday 8

7 10/60

1 20/60

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — came upstairs again at 7 3/4 — wrote the last 20 lines of the last page at breakfast at 9 55/60 — walked to church with my uncle — heard for the 1st time Mr. William Knight (our vicar’s oldest son) preached — good voice — might manage it much better — yet reads pretty fairly — my uncle observed he was not an agreeable preacher — no!  Said I — he shouted too much — preached 40 minutes from Acts ii 39 not interestingly — I grew sadly tired and was 1/2 asleep and probably nodding the last 5 or 10 minutes — got home and came upstairs at 1 1/2 — wrote all this page — looking over one of the trunks I intend to take to Paris, etc. etc. till 4 35/60 — went down stairs at 4 3/4 — my aunt and I read the prayers and I read aloud sermon 90 volume 3 my uncle’s collection — Dinner at 6 — my aunt’s bowels very bad this afternoon and evening — In the evening ruled out 24 pages for the index at the end of this volume wrote out the literary index from page 13 to the end of page 30 and wrote out the index from 3 to 9 July last — my aunt’s bowels so bad she went to bed a little before 9 — coffee at ______ [space left blank] Rain early in the morning — afterwards a little damp just before we went to church and as we returned — rainy evening — Barometer 1 3/4 degree below changeable Fahrenheit 60° at 10 20/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — my aunt a little better — Sat up writing on my slate the copy of a letter to Miss Vallance a well done ingenious get off it satisfies me

[oeillade]

Veterinary care for Caradoc detailed and the Retrospective Review has an interesting article on suffrage for women. Mariana makes Anne feel ashamed of her posture and Anne resolves to improve it.  ‘Stood singing over all my old songs before I could make up my mind to get into bed.’

1824

August Saturday 7

6 1/2 

12 20/60

Gave Hotspur oat meal and water — an hour down stairs — Caradoc’s off hind fetlock a good deal swelled this morning more doubtless from not having had his boot on last night — I wished to see how he would do without it — Sent George for Blamire to bleed the horse in the toe — Blamire gone to Blackpool — Read a few more pages of the last number of the Retrospective (number 9) and went down to breakfast at 10, after reading my letter from Mariana (Mrs. Briscoe’s Hotel, Parkgate, Neston, Cheshire) — 3 pages and the ends, small and close — She wrote a very proper letter to Mrs. Henry Stephen Belcombe — about the advantage of Steph’s settling York — good accounts of Dr. Belcombe — Mariana been bilious in consequence of fright — were driving on the sands, got into a quick sand, and were nearly lost — Miss Pattison much pleased with my letter laid up in her bed with a cold and a little fever Mariana quite satisfied by my having read her Miss Maclean’s letter and my answer will doubt no more writes affectionately — Sent Georges to Halifax (King Cross Lane) for Mr. Gill the farrier and cow doctor to bleed Caradoc — Came upstairs at 11 — Read articles 1 and 7 on Gothic architecture and the privileges of women — (good) Retrospective review — page 107 after an end was put to return of Knights of the shires ‘(in the 1st and 2d years of Henry 5th by attorneys on behalf of Lords, Ladies, etc.’ the writer proceeds to say ‘we cannot discover whether any woman afterwards voted in person but we are not aware of any law that would prevent them nor of any action at the present time that would exclude them It is stated in the Percy Anecdotes that  in an action at law, ‘it had been determined that an unmarried woman having a freehold might vote for members of parliament: we ‘are not aware of any such fact’ — Retrospective Review volume 19 page 107.  Had 1/2 hour’s nap — down stairs about an hour — had Caradoc turned into the paddock for an hour — ordered a little gate to be hung temporarily opening from the paddock into the court yard — At 2 1/2 went down to see Caradoc bled — Mr. Gill took a full gallon from the toe of the off hind fetlock — the swelling all round the joint chiefly on the inside bend of the joint much almost entirely reduced — the operation took just 1 50/60 hour from Benjamin Schofield’s taking off the shoe, to setting it on again.  During all which time I stood by — It struck me, if Caradoc’s fetlock had been well rubbed with brandy or well washed with cold water and hand-rubbed dry, that the swelling might have been prevented — staid with the men hanging the little gate into the paddock — my aunt came to us — Her journey had done her good — but she will soon, I fear, be as bad as ever again — her habit is confirmedly gouty, and she becomes very feeble in her limbs — came in at 6 — went down to dinner at 6 20/60 — In the evening my father and Marian called — I afterwards walked 1/2 hour on the terrace and came in to coffee at 9 5/60 — Very fine day — Barometer 1/2 degree above changeable Fahrenheit 60 1/2° at 10 20/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — Read a few pages of number 19 Retrospective review —  Mariana told me my back was getting round got the yard wand and held it at my back with pain and difficulty when undressed near ten minutes this morning and above five tonight meaning to continue this plan till I get my shoulders properly back — Stood singing over all my old songs before I could make up my mind to get into bed.